Wrench



F. M. MURRAY.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT-18,1918:

1,342,643. Patented June 8, 1920.

attocnu;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

meanes- Application filed September 18, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. MU RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cadyville, in the county of Clinton and State of'New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw m s.

lhis invention relates to certain improvements in wrenches, and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character including two relatively mova l j aws, and it is an object of the invention t provide a wrench of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the movable jaw may be conveniently and effectively locked at various positions, and particularly as a result of the strain imposed thereon during a working operation.

It is a further ,object of the invention to provide a novel and improved wrench including a movable or sliding jaw snugly fitting upon shank, and wherein a look ing member for the movable jaw is also slidably mounted upon the shank and which frictionalily engages the shank when s rain is imposed upon the movable jaw during the working oper ion- An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved wrench of this character wherein ,amovable jaw together with a separable holding or looking member are slid ably mounted upon a shank together with means whereby said jaw and member are caused to move in unison and in the same general direction, so that said jaw and member are normally maintained in proper relation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved wrench whereby rertain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Specification of Letters Patent.

4 FRANK Manner. or AD ILL NEW YQBK- wnENcH.

Patented June 8, 1220. Serial No. 254,555.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in l ongi tudinal section of my improved wrench as herein embodied; and

Fig. ,3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, S denotes an elongated shank of predetermined dimensions, and which is provided at one end portion with a fixed 'aw F. Snugly mounted upon the shank is a movable or sliding jaw J, and coacting with the jaw J is a locking or holding member M also slidably mounted on the shank S, but capable of slight rock ing movement independently thereof.

The opposed faces of the jaw J and the member M are obliquely disposed or inclined in the same general direction with the inclined face a of the jaw J arranged on a less angle than the inclined face 6 of the member M. The faces a and Z) converge toward the back of the shank S, and said rear portions of said faces a and b are constantly in contact one with the other as is particularly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 denotes a flat spring anchored at one end, as at 2, to the rear face of the member M. The opposite end portion of the spring 1 is provided with an inwardly directed lip or extension 8 overlying the forward or outer face of the jaw J whereby the spring 1 serves to maintain the jaw J and the member M in assembled relation and assures unitary movement thereof in either direction lohgitudinally of the shank S. The spring 1 also serves to maintain the member M in a cramped position so that the pressure between the jaws l and J acts immediately on the member M without any movement of the same upward.

hen the jnsted relative to the jaw F to engage the work, it will .be understood that the resultant strain upon the jaw J during the working operation will slightly rock the member M and cause said member to frictionally bind against the shank S and thereby hold the jaw J its desired position. It will also be self evident that the greater strain imposed upon the jaw the -tighter the member M will grip the shank S. i 4

In order to hold the aw J Land the member M from slipping or moving longitudily of t ha k 3, ad.- erfiwlsi y w n work g ope a ons, fin i f ad j w J ha e n P per y vantage to thread through the back portion of the member M a set screw 4 which is adapted to frictionally engage the rear face of the shank S within the groove 5. The groove 5 extends substantially the entire length ofthe shank S. By the use of the set screw 4 it will be understood that after the jaw J has been properly set it is only necessary to cause said set screw 4 to have slight frictional contact with the shank S in order to maintain the jaw J in its de sired adjustment.

The screw 4 also serves to regulate the tension of the spring 1 as the entire surface of the head of said screw 4 contacts with the outer face of the spring 1. The spring has an elongated opening 1 through which the screw 4 is directed and the spring 1 is disposed longitudinally on a how so that the spring will permit the free end of'the shankof the screw 4 to tighten down on the bottom of the groove 5.,

The opposite ends of the groove 5 terminate inwardly of the opposite ends of the shank S so that the screw 4, or more particularly the portion thereof extending within the groove 5 serves as a stop so that an accidental displacement of the member M and jaw J is prevented.

" In order that the member M may have this desired rocking movement in a direction longitudinally of the jaws F and J, the

front and rear walls of the bore of said member M are arranged as indlcated at c.

on a slight angle By having theset' screw 4 engage within the groove 5 produced along the rear shank by said set of the face S, it will be perceived that said rear face of the shank S will not be marred screw, in a manner which would otherwise affect the movement of'the jaw J longitudinally of the shank S c In order to, facilitate the movement of the jaw J and the member M toward the jaw F, I provide the rear face of the member M adjacent its outer end with an outstanding lug 6, which affords a convenient rest for a digit, more particularly the thumb, of a hand grasping shank S. In order to move the jaw J and the member M' in the opposite direction, I provide the front portion thereof adjacent its outer end with an outwardly directed lug 7, which is also adapted to be engaged by the digit of a hand holding the shank S. i

In the use of a wrench constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed, it willbe selfevident'that the same possesses a great range ofadjustment, which can'be made almost instantaneously, and which will stand a tremendous strain between the jaws F and J. A further and particular adv'antage'of improved wrench resides in the rigidity with which the jaw J can be fitted to the 3. A wrench'comprising a shank,

shank S, as the structure of my improved wrench permits the 'jawJ to fit the shank S without any play whatever.

From the foregoing description, thought to be obvious that a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice eX- cept as hereinafter claimed. 1

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a shank, a slidable jaw movable thereon, a holding member slidably mounted directly on the shank and coacting with the movable jaw, theopit is posed facesof the jaw and holding memmember holds said jaw against movement along the shank.

2. A wrench comprising a shank, a slidable jaw movable thereon, a holding member slidably mounted directly on the shank and coacting with the movable jaw, the opposed faces of her being inclined injthe'same general direction but on different angles, said hold- ;ing 'member having slight rocking movement independently of the shank, .the inclined faces of the awand member converging, said inclined faces coacting one with the other when pressure is imposed upon the sliding jaw whereby the holding ,member holds said jaw against movement and means for maintalnmg along the shank, the converging end portions of the opposed faces'of the jaw and holding member substantially in contact."

I a slidabl'e' jaw movable thereon, a holding member slidably mounted directly on the shank and 'coacting with the movable jaw, the opposed faces of the jaw and holding member being inclined in the same general direction the aw and holding membut ondiiferent angles, said'holding member having slight rocking movement independently of the shank, the inclined faces of the jaw'and member converging, said inclined faces coacting one with theother when pressure is imposed upon the sliding jaw whereby the holding member holds said jaw against movement along the shank, and a resilient member carried by the holding member and engaging the slidable jaw for maintaining the converging end portions of the opposed faces of said slidable jaw and holding member substantially in contact.

i. A wrench comprising a shank, a slidable jaw movable thereon, a holding member slidably mounted directly on the shank and coaoting with the movable jaw, the 0pposed faces of the jaw and holding member being inclined in the same general direction but on different angles, said holding member having slight rocking movement in dependently of the shank, the inclined faces vof the jaw and member converging, said inclined faces coacting one with the other when pressure is imposed upon the sliding jaw whereby the holding member holds said jaw against movement along the shank, and means for maintaining the converging end portions of the opposed faces of the jaW and holding member substantially in contact, said holding member being provided with oppositely directed lugs to facilitate the movement of the holding member with respect to the shank.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK M. MURRAY.

B. W. LEWIS. 

